Duterte says he’ll only buy Israeli weapons because there are no restrictions
Times of Israel: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday told President Reuven Rivlin that his country would now only buy weapons from Israel due to its lack of restrictions, as dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the president’s Jerusalem residence to protest the controversial visit.
According to a Hebrew-language statement, Duterte praised Israel for helping the Philippines win its war on terror and said the Jewish state had aided the country on intelligence matters on multiple occasions.
He said he instructed his military personnel to purchase weapons and military equipment exclusively from Israel. The US is “a good friend,” but if we buy there are limitations, also with Germany and China, added Duterte, without elaborating on the restrictions. Though it is not officially listed on his schedule, Duterte’s trip to Israel was expected to focus on exploring possible arms deals. He has said in the past that he sees Israel as an alternative supplier of weapons after the US and other countries refused to sell him arms over human rights violations. His visit comes amid a violent crackdown on drug dealers back home that has been forcefully denounced by human rights groups. Israel is among the world’s top arms dealers, with nearly 60 percent of its defense exports going to the Asia-Pacific region, according to Israeli Defense Ministry data. The Philippines emerged as a significant new customer in 2017, with sales of radar and anti-tank equipment worth $21 million. Duterte, in his comments, was dismissive of the criticism, saying his country upholds “morals and principles of democracy.”
Dozens of protesters gathered outside Rivlin’s residence on Tuesday to demonstrate against the hosting of Duterte.
Israel has found itself in hot water previously for its arms sales, particularly in 2017 for supplying Myanmar with “advanced weapons” during the country’s ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya, a Muslim minority.
Duterte also took the opportunity to mention his Jewish daughter and that the Philippines in 1947 provided the tie-breaking vote at the United Nations to create Israel.
Rivlin, who has come under pressure not to meet with the Philippines strongman, took the opportunity to school Duterte, who has in the past compared himself favorably to Hitler.
“Hitler was the devil himself,” Rivlin told the Philippines’ leader.
Rivlin also noted the strong ties between the two countries, saying: “We are working with any country that wants to fight terrorism,” before adding that “we insist on the principles of democracy and equality.”
Both countries have similarly struggled to quell Islamist terrorism within their respective borders.
In his comments at the opening of the meeting, Rivlin also mentioned the role played by the Philippines in saving Jews during the Holocaust. The heavily Catholic state provided refuge for nearly 1,300 Jews during the Holocaust, even offering to grant more than 10,000 visas to Jews at the time.
The Philippines’ leader’s visit has been criticized in Israel, partly due to comments he made in 2016, when he said he would “be happy to slaughter” millions of drug users in his country and likened himself in that context to Hitler, who also slaughtered millions.
On Monday, Duterte called Adolf Hitler “insane” during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and pledged that his country would fight against other such leaders.